A Time to Heal

Well, I pulled a rookie move on the mountain bike and ended up in emergency with 6 stitches on the back of the right calf.  For me, it is a time to heal.  Wounds are painful, they are messy and require the skilled hand of a doctor.  Then there is the pain of recovery process itself.  My perspective is, in this case, that physical wounds are often easier to recover from than the emotional, or spiritual wounds we pick up through life.  I asked the doctor if I really needed to come into emergency for stitches.  Her response was, “No, but you would risk a really bad scar, possibly infection and further complications.”  I felt like I made a wise decision.  I have a tendency to try to fix these things myself (couple butterfly band aids, some Peroxide and Neosporin).  I wonder how many times in life we have been wounded and not taken the proper steps to ensure we are treated.  We are blessed with good doctors in our country who can treat just about anything, from a sprain to brain cancer.  But, what about those things that, equally serious, go untreated?  The emotional and spiritual.  There is a Savior who is willing and able to treat anything we bring to Him.  He is able to make it so we not only heal, but have no scar or memory of the wound.  He heals completely, thoroughly…if we bring those wounds to Him.  I think now would be a good time to call on the Chief of Surgery, he already knows the wound, the complications, the infection, the cure.  The cure is in the power of the blood of his son…magnificent Jesus Christ.  He is the master healer, the skilled physician.  He can raise the dead to life, make the blind see and the lame walk, and most importantly, he can give you everlasting life in Christ.  Call on Him, don’t ignore treatment, the complications can rob you from the life God intended for you.  Luke 6:19 “and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.”

Action Packed Week

Coming up for air!  Last Saturday was packed to the gills with Jesus (which is a good thing).  We kicked off the day with a water handout down at the Danville Farmers Market, it was awesome, we got mobbed by thirsty people.  Glory to God, we are meeting a need.  Saturday evening we had our back to school blessing and sent everyone back to school with a spiritual covering, sweet!   I had the privelage of dedicating the Garcia family and their latest addition Luke.  To close out the night, we had our first HPC movie night for the kids.  Two movies going, simultaneously, candy, popcorn, Hoagie sandwiches, drinks etc.  It was a truly awesome weekend.  Pheeeewwwww!

300 in 30

Team Red is going for consistency this summer.  We hit the Farmers Market for the 3rd weekend in a row.  We actually have had a number of repeat recepients getting blessed in Jesus name.  We want people to know that we are here for the long haul.  I think they appreciate it because we handed out just over 300 bottles of water in about 30 minutes.  Great job team!  It is an amazing feeling to be a love dispenser for Jesus.  What a privelage; what a gift.  Glory to God.

It’s Time to Pray for the Children

I want to encourage you to pray for the children August 1 - September 9.  If you miss a day, that’s ok, if you get started late, that’s ok.  Just pray.  Join people from all around the world as we pray for those with real needs.  It’s amazing what happens when we take the focus off ourselves for a minute and focus on others.  Jesus was constantly drawn to the others.  We should be too.  You can find more information about Children’s Cup at www.childrenscup.org.

Insight from Brother Yun

I am going to have to get his book, Living Water.  I get quotes from great books from Zondervan in my email every day.  This one spoke to me big time this morning.

“I believe the Western church is generally in the same condition as Martha. You know the truths about God’s Word in your head, but you still like to run your own lives. Like Martha, many Christians cry out, “Lord, if you had just done things according to our plans, we would never have ended up in such a mess.” Friend, you need to realize that God is not at all interested in your plans. He is only interested in His plans! So many churches and individual believers think they should make their own plans and strategies, then ask God to bless them. The almighty God is not our servant! He does not do what we tell Him to do. Many Christians need to climb down from the throne they have built for themselves, fall on their faces before God and do whatever the Master tells them to do.”

Brother Yun, Living Water

Serious Creativity

You ever feel like you need to think outside the box a bit?  The picture below, taken somewhere in the South, may help get your creative juices flowing.  This may also come in handy if your stranded on a dessert island with only a few essentials.  Glory.  Timmy, I’ll buy you lunch if you can top this picture.

note:  The thoughts and views on this post do not reflect those of Healing Place Church.

Bubble Bursting

Today could have been like most days, preping for the weekend.  Printing bulletins, planning out what next month will look like, administrivia galore.  We can get into our rythems and ruts and roll along and miss the needs around us.  I know when I am in my own little world when I don’t see the needs, even more, don’t respond to them but watch them pass by.  This morning was different though.  I picked up the Children’s Cup 40 days of prayer for the children booklet and began to read through it.  It impacted me, how could it not.  Someone came in my office who’s loved one is going through some very difficult health issues.  It stopped me.  I got a call from a couple who have been living in their car for a year, never had a call like that.  All the “stuff”, the planning, printing, the playing church didn’t matter for a few minutes, all that mattered were the needs at hand.  So I prayed.  I prayed for the needs in Africa, and will do so for 40 days.  I prayed for the homeless man that he would find work and began to make some calls, and I prayed with my friend who’s loved one is going through difficult, overwhelming health issues.  You see and feel everything Lord, thanks for bursting my Rob bubble and helping me wake up to the real needs around me.  Lord, you are more than adequate to meet these needs.  Thank you Jesus.

HPC Danville Servolution 08 - Slideshow Recap

This barely captures all that was accomplished during their trip, but it captures the heart of what was accomplished.  Some key stats are handing out over 1,500 bottles of water, 350 packs of gum, 6 bags of trash (Danville trash), one Giant’s game and one trip to the slammer (Alcatraz).   Some iPhone pictures mixed in, you can tell.  Enjoy a glimpse and give God the glory.

Hero’s and Moms of Hero’s

Well, I had lunch with an amazing bunch of people yesterday.  I planned on lunch with my buddy Steve, but didn’t know there were going to be a group of awesome women joinig us too.  The purpose of the lunch was to discuss how we could serve Sgt. Major Commenia Hill (who calls home Baton Rouge, LA) and the families of her base, Camp Parks.  Represented there were three Blue Star Mom’s, a member of the board of directors for a women’s shelter called Shepherd’s Gate and the honoree of the lunch, Command Sergeant Major Commenia Hill from Camp Parks Army Base in Dublin.  I literally sat and listened to their hearts all through lunch.  Four of the five women have sons and daughters serving our country.  They are passionate about supporting our troups, the vets and the military of course.  As far as i’m concerned, these women are all hero’s, and mom’s of Hero’s.  It was an honor and privelage to hang with them for lunch.  Thank’s Steve for pulling this togehter.  Look forward to serving with you and the others in the future.

Servolution July 08

They came, they served.  They showed God’s goodness through acts of kindness.  They prayed, they sang, they served, they loved God.  AWESOME, humbling. Come back to check out the full post, day by day in a few days.